Onshore Oil & Gas Exploration

Paul has written to Mr Greg Knight MP asking him for his view and the fact we were told back in March 2014 that fracking was not planned at that time.

Please see the email below:

New Onshore Oil & Gas Exploration Licence

I am writing to you concerning the Government’s announcement today about the UK 14^th Round for onshore oil and gas exploration licences. As you may be aware my company, Cuadrilla Resources, along with its business partner GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd (part of the ENGIE group), have been offered a number of licences to explore for shale gas in the area of North Yorkshire and East Riding outlined in these maps part of which is within your parish. 

Cuadrilla Resources is a British company which aims to lead best practice for unconventional hydrocarbon exploration in Europe.  We take our responsibilities with regards to safety, environmental protection and working with local communities very seriously

We are pleased to be offered these new exploration licences which are in addition to the licence areas that were announced in August 2015. The blocks we have been offered today have been subject to assessment under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 in preparation for today’s announcement by the Government.

We welcome the potential for exploration in North Yorkshire and East Riding and the associated benefits of new jobs and economic growth we believe it will bring.  For the next year activity in this new licence area will largely centre on desktop studies and potentially acquiring some seismic data.  This will provide us with a detailed insight into the geology deep underneath the licence area and help in the assessment of locations for potential future exploration sites. 

Any future proposed exploration sites would be the subject of planning applications to the local authority, applications to the Environment Agency and HSE for regulatory approvals, an Environmental Impact Assessment where potential fracking is involved along with extensive public consultation and other community engagement.

On the matter of community benefit, the shale gas industry, through its representative body UK Onshore Oil & Gas (UKOOG) has agreed with Government to pay £100,000 to the community local to each exploration site where it has been granted full planning and regulatory permissions to hydraulically fracture an exploration well.

Our first priority will be to talk with the local communities and their elected representatives.  We would therefore welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss our plans in more detail.

We recognise that some members of the public will have concerns and we have a responsibility to communicate with the local community regularly and transparently about any proposed work and future operations and to reassure them that onshore exploration and fracking can and will be done safely, securely and in an environmentally responsible way.  A community helpline is already set up for people in Yorkshire who may have early questions about onshore oil and gas exploration.  The number is:  0800 1303 884.

 Yours sincerely

 Francis Egan

CEO

Cuadrilla Resources